0%

bleak

bleak
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [bleek]
    • /blik/
    • /bliːk/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [bleek]
    • /blik/

Definitions of bleak word

  • adjective bleak If a situation is bleak, it is bad, and seems unlikely to improve. 3
  • adjective bleak If you describe a place as bleak, you mean that it looks cold, empty, and unattractive. 3
  • adjective bleak When the weather is bleak, it is cold, dull, and unpleasant. 3
  • adjective bleak If someone looks or sounds bleak, they look or sound depressed, as if they have no hope or energy. 3
  • adjective bleak exposed and barren; desolate 3
  • adjective bleak cold and raw 3

Information block about the term

Origin of bleak

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English bleke pale, blend of variants bleche (Old English blǣc) and blake (Old English blāc); both cognate with Old Norse bleikr, German bleich; akin to bleach

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Bleak

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

bleak popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

bleak usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for bleak

adj bleak

  • desolate — A desolate place is empty of people and lacking in comfort.
  • austere — If you describe something as austere, you approve of its plain and simple appearance.
  • dreary — causing sadness or gloom.
  • chilly — Something that is chilly is unpleasantly cold.
  • cold — Something that is cold has a very low temperature or a lower temperature than is normal or acceptable.

Antonyms for bleak

adj bleak

  • cheerful — Someone who is cheerful is happy and shows this in their behaviour.
  • friendly — characteristic of or befitting a friend; showing friendship: a friendly greeting.
  • appealing — Someone or something that is appealing is pleasing and attractive.
  • pleasant — pleasing, agreeable, or enjoyable; giving pleasure: pleasant news.
  • comforting — If you say that something is comforting, you mean it makes you feel less worried or unhappy.

Top questions with bleak

  • what does bleak mean?
  • how to get to bleak falls barrow?
  • what is the definition of bleak?
  • what is bleak?
  • what does the word bleak mean?
  • how to find the secret of bleak falls barrow?
  • what does bleak?
  • when was bleak house written?
  • what is the code in skyrim for bleak falls barrow?
  • how to get the golden claw in bleak falls barrow?
  • what rhymes with bleak?
  • who wrote bleak house?
  • what is bleak house about?
  • what is bleak mean?
  • what is another word for bleak?

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?